Combined flour and meal sifter



`(No Mude.)l

- A. BROOKS.

COMBINED `FLUUB, AND MEAL SIPTER.

No. 494,753. Patented Apr. 4, 1893.

{L4/wml* YH: mams #neas so. micro-umu.. wsnwrmax. D a

Unirse STATES -lilnrlnrrr drric AUGUSTUS BROOKS, OF SAYRE, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINED FLOUR AND MEAL SIFTER.

SECIFIGATION :forming part of Letters Patent No. 494,7 53, dated April 4, 1893.

Application tiled July l5I 1892.

To @Z5 whom zit may concern,.-

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS BROOKS, of Sayre, in the county of Bradford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cabinet-Sitters; and l do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates particularly to devices for containing the supply of flour or meal for family or domestic use, and has for its object, to provide a device of this character embodying a sifting mechanism of simple and eiiicientdesign, capable of being readily renewed, when worn or destroyed, together with a receptacle for the sifted fiour or meal and a bin for an extra supply.

The invention consists, in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts all as will be now described and pointed out particularlyin the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure lis a perspective view of a cabinet constructed in accordance with my present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the same.

Similar letters of reference in both the iigures indicate the same parts.

In carrying this invention into practice, I provide an upper section or hopper A and a lower section or base B, upon whichthe upper section is supported, together with sifting mechanism and a receptacle for the sifted flour and a bin for containing an extra supply. The upper section consists practically of a simple casing, open at both top and bottom, but adapted to make a close joint with the lower section and be held in place thereon by any suitable removable fastening devices such as screws ct, while its exterior is embellished by suitable paneling or other ornamentation calculated to make the device attractive in appearance. In the top of the lower section, immediately over the drawer C is an opening b, preferably of circular contour over which is stretched a fiat section of foraminous material such as ascrecn D, held in place by tacks if desired, and with its edges clamped between the two sections A and B of Serial No. 440,155. (No model.)

the cabinet. This structure it will be seen, permits of the ready renewal or substitution of screens of different mesh by simply separating the sections and placing a flat piece of the foraminous materialof the desired quality over the opening b. By clamping the screen between the two sections in this manner, the necessity of employing a special frame in which the screen must be mounted to hold it distended is entirely obviated, the top and bottom sections themselves in effect taking the place of such a frame. Further than this, the device is thereby simplified, the cost of manufacture reduced, and the screen maybe repaired or renewed with the greatest ease and convenience.

Bridging the opening h below the screen, is a cross piece or support E having a bearing for the lower end of a vertical shaft E provided with means such as the crank handle F whereby it may be rotated from the exterior of the cabinet. The lower end of this shaft E is squared or of irregular shape, and upon it, immediately above the screen, is mounted the agitator consisting of a hub e mounted loosely upon the shaft so as to rotate therewith, but rest lightly upon the screen, and having a series of curved radial arms c which sweep around in proximity to the screen, agitate the'iiour or meal and cause its passage through the screen into the drawer or receptacle C.

A cover G is provided, for the hopper, having a bearing or opening for the passage of the shaft, and the interior of the hopper is formed with the usual corner cleats to prevent the formation of recesses in which the iionr or meal would accumulate.

Below the drawer and hinged at the lower forward edge is a bin H adapted for the reception of an extra supply, or for the reception of waste accumulating during the sifting operation. The sides of this bin H are segmental in shape with the hinges at the center. Thus the bin may be drawn forward for the removal of its contents with the least possible exertion.

The whole device is of a convenient height to enable a person to grasp the cranlr handle and sift the desired quantity of flour or meal and without stooping remove the drawer containing the same, and, although, it is obvious IOO and the :Hat section of screen resting on the top of the base section and bridging the aperture therein, of the top section resting on and confining the edges of the screen between the top and bottom sections with removable fastening's for vunitingthe top and bottom secztions,whereby the 'screen is held distended without the use of aspecialframe therefor, and the vagitator mounted in thetop section to rotate above the screen 3 substan tially as described.

2. In a cabinet, such as described, the combination with .the hopper and screen, of the vertical shaft secured in proximity to the screen, the agitator `consisting of the hub mounted on said vshaft so as to rotate therewith but loose and free to move longitudinally of the shaft, of the arms carried by said hub moving in proximity to the screen; 7substantially as described. f

i A. BROOKS.

Witnesses:

H. C. SINSABMJGH,

P. L. MORRIS. 

